Monday, June 14, 2010

Well, this was the view over most of the area on Sunday.Rain sodden...Two car boots abandoned(gnashing of teeth) and a pile of reports waiting to be tackled....What to do?

I know.A trip to Whitby is just what's needed ......

And a comforting browse in the best bookshop ever.Where I discovered this treasure and had another epiphany....

I am not normally bowled over by quilts that are so bright.Many patchwork and quilting magazines contain too many bright and shiny quilts which look too mass produced for my taste but I love the fabrics in this book, which positively shout and sing at you.(Donna also gets a mention in this book too.Me thinks Donna is a VIP!)This book is so utterly fab I want to shout from the roof tops, so next best thing...... share it with my lovely blogger friends.You may already have it and if you have why haven't you told me all about it?

I love , love this.....

...and this....

This is purehe aven on aq bed......

I love the brazen colours in this quilt ......

I also find the mood boards that are sprinkled throughout the book very satisfying ......

I want this on my desk...................

If you have't already bought this ,it is a definite wish list addition,but I'm afraid it just got the better of me and it had to come home with me....sigh..Anyway,I wa telling you about my other epiphany.In the beginning of the book,Jane talks about her yearnings to make a quilt herself after years of collecting quilts and fabric and admiring other peoples antique and vintage quilts and how she agonised about doing it right or getting it wrong and possibly missing the point of one of the great, folk art skills.Her friend upon witnessing Jane's procrastination said ~"For heaven's sake Jane," its just sewing and ding,dong lightbulb moment.That is exactly what I do. I put things off because I am not too confident about the end result so I never start or finish anything.However thanks to Jane,I will get to grips with my unfinished symphonies and show you the results.So once again watch this space,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Finally, the perfect end to a perfect weekendand no reports completed/The urge to bake was too great.........

Sunday, June 13, 2010

I have been a Janet Bolton groupie for many years.I love the serenity and simplicity of her work which is actually on closer inspection very intricate.She has the ability to breath mood and movement into her work with the slightest change of angle.
Anyway about a year ago, my good friend Heidi of Old Homestead fame told me she had booked Janet for this weekend.(Yes, Janet is that popular. She is currently booked up to the end od 2012!!)Anyway,the day dawned and on Saturday I picked up my sister Jules and we went to Lebberston for a day with Janet.It was actually a two day course which is why you may think I have not achieved very much, but I could only go for one day as I had to work in the shop on Sunday.I can't show you her current exhibition work as sadly many people have ignored moral copyright and have copied and reproduced her designs but I can show you studies from her books.

It was totally fascinating listening to Janet's anecdotes from her child hood and to learn about the main influences in her life from kite making to the subliminal impact of growing up in a Lancashire town where the quality of cotton and fabric and the cut of clothes was of paramount value and importance.

I love the movement in this design.You can feel the wind buffeting the kite around and the joy felt by the kite flyers.......

Below is my humble attempt at a composition.It is work in progresss and I shall complete it and show you.I loved playing with the fabric and including some favourite thigs bees,hens and using a muted palette all of which is used or recycled.I mentioned to Janet that Donna has some amazing fabric and she said that Donna has attended several of her courses and is a lovely lady.Everyone at the course did a different theme and used a range of colours from bright and gaudy to paqle and interesting.....Watch this space

Here are two books I have had for years.I started the small quilt when my son was born and he is nearly 24 but I havent finished it and I didnt havs=e a very good range of fabric to choose from so Im nor really happy with it.

Jules and Heidi hard at work and concentrating !!!!

Here you can see Janet cutting out a hen freehand making it look soooo easy!

It was a wonderful and inspiratonal day but I had an epiphany ...When Janet said you should do what's in your heart and I realised I have spent far too much of my life not pursuing my true interests. I spend 95% of my time doing things I really dislike and 5% doing the things I do ,when it should be the other way round.....I am going to redress the balance...one of these days.........Thank you Janet and thankyou Heidi and Jilly for the wonderful food..

Sunday, June 6, 2010

I have been reading Donna's (Fabric of my life)blog and she was talking about how yellow is the colour that seems to be creeping into her life and I know what she means.I think yellow can be very uplifting and we subconsciously chose it as its sunshine to the soul.I too have noticed yellow gradually seeping into my life....

I bought this little vase at a car boot a few weeks ago (50p)

Ardley salt and pepper pots (£2.00)

A rather gorgeous honey pot which I found in a charity shop.....

I have been drinking a lot of lemonade,,,,I love this ikea bottle......

And a little bit of limey yellow nicotiana in the border,,,,so cheerful.....

Saturday, June 5, 2010

This sight always makes my heart sing...York Minster in the sunlight ....such an inspirational place...So on Friday Jules(Sister) went for a mooch in York.Among the many shops worth visiting, we had to pop into Cath Kidston for a litle bit of fabric acquisition....

Look at all that gorgeousness!

I have to say though I go into CK quite often but hardly ever buy anything (apart from bags) these days'

I think the older fabric designs were much nicer.

I have alot of Cath fabric which I use in the shop for window displays and styling but I am loathe to cut up or use in any other way.

I love, love, this bed and want to be stretched out on it/in it.......Loving thr pink dressing table....

A little bit of chair envy..I soooo would like to have this chair or have a go at my own patchwork chair...one of these days....

More chair envy .... how divine is this chair ? Such wonderful patchy goodness.I am sooooo full of envy....

No visit to York is complete without popping into Betty's or in this case Little Betty's which I personally prefer as it's cosier and is upstairs overlooking Stonegate Just look at these beautiful tea pots and cakes...none of which passed my lips.....but the bacon muffin and scrambled eggs did.....

We had a l ovely morning butI was fairly pleased to get home to the garden as it was very,very hot.

I have on reflection rather a lot of cushions....
I love buying cushions or buying fabric to make cushions....Why? because I know they will always fit me and I never have to try them on.......
..because you can changre the whole look of a room by changing the cushions so its an inexpensive way of changing the mood or seasonal feel of a room.I have recently put away the red themed cushions in my living room and replaced them with a duck egg blue palette which makes the room more serene.

I am a very shallow person I can hear you thinking.Rio Ferdinand is out of the world cup....oil is being pumped into the sea at an alarming rate which will be ecologically devestating and seemingly normal people are running around shooting innocent people andI am faffing around with cushions.......

I have no excuse. Its an addiction along with many other fixations, but thats for another day......

Here are just a few of my favourite cushions.

Some I have made, some I have bought or have been made by others of a clever and creative disposition.

The first one, is one I have just made out of some fabric I have had for many. many years .The one where the needle snapped on my machine, half way through.I still have two more to make but have seriously fallen out with my sewing machine and she is currently sulking and pouting upstairs.....

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

It cannot be true.It really is June!Where did May go?Anyway Phew!It's now half term and I can take a moment and post something...anything...So I thought I'd show you some things that are tickling my fancy at the moment.

My new school bag courtesy of Easy Living magazine and Cath K.I love the cheerful colours.

I have finally made a new curtain for under my belfast sink.When I was having yet another sort out I found this piece of Vanessa Arbuthnott fabric and with a quick whizz on the machine sorted!!(Note to self :Why does the nmachine always play up juast when I need it to work?) In this instance the needle snapped!!!

My stripey blanket which continues to grow and the colours give me such pleasure.They seem to arrange themselves.

More stocks......I do sooooo love them.If I had a field I would fill it full of stocks...I don't know what's happening to my pictures .My brother has altered something when he uploaded Tif's challenge of the utmost kind and all my photos are squashed together and out of sync. .Why? Oh Why?